Unlike Gabriel, Lilith knew her father's priorities all too well. Gabriel had escaped Azareon's watch not because of luck, but because of irrelevance. To the king, Gabriel's defiance had been nothing more than an irritation—a minor inconvenience he could discard without a second thought. Once exiled, Gabriel was stripped of his place in the royal family and of any value he might have had to Azareon's ambitions. He had ceased to exist in their father's eyes.
Lilith, however, was an entirely different matter. She wasn't just important because of her title as his heir—she was powerful. Different from Gabriel, who had never possessed extraordinary strength, Lilith had inherited talents and abilities that had made her stand out even from a young age. Azareon had noticed her potential, watched her hone her skills with quiet intensity, and seen the way her power grew with each passing year.
He knew that in time—perhaps only a few years or even months—Lilith's abilities might rival his own. She was his daughter in blood but a threat in every other sense. If she turned against him, it wouldn't just be rebellion; it would be war. She wouldn't be easily silenced or subdued. And that's what made her dangerous.
For Azareon, controlling Lilith wasn't just a matter of maintaining his authority—it was a matter of survival. Letting her go, allowing her to escape, would leave him vulnerable in ways he couldn't afford. She wasn't just his child. She was his challenger waiting to rise.
Lilith understood this reality better than anyone, yet her resolve remained unshaken. She wouldn't allow herself to be manipulated or used, no matter the cost. Even if Azareon pursued her, even if the entire Sky Reign turned against her, she would fight for her freedom.
They spent some time together on the mountaintop, talking and laughing about the events that had shaped their lives. Stories of missteps, small victories, and fleeting joys spilled between them like shared treasure, building a fleeting bubble of peace against the backdrop of the vast, moonlit world.
Gabriel stretched his arms and stood, glancing down the mountain trail with a thoughtful expression. "I need to go now, sis," he said, his voice carrying a mixture of reluctance and duty. "My family awaits me."
Lilith looked up at him, her lips curving into a small, warm smile. She nodded, understanding the weight behind his words. "You should go too," Gabriel added, his gaze lingering on her. "It's already night."
Lilith shook her head gently as Gabriel prepared to leave. "I'll stay a little longer," she said, her tone calm but resolute. "The view's too beautiful tonight, and I need this time to clear my mind."
Gabriel hesitated for a moment, studying her with a worried expression. "Alright," he said softly. "But be cautious. Don't extend too much—if Father finds out, he'll be furious." His voice carried a quiet plea, urging her to avoid unnecessary trouble.
He stepped closer and pulled her into a firm embrace. "Hope we meet more times here," he said, his voice filled with warmth and a hint of longing.
Lilith returned the hug with a faint smile, her emotions a mixture of gratitude and resolve. "We will," she said simply, her words a quiet promise.
Gabriel released her and stepped back, turning toward the edge of the cliff. His angel wings unfolded gracefully, their luminous feathers catching the silver light of the full moon. With one last glance back at Lilith, he launched himself into the air, his figure merging with the glowing horizon as he soared toward the landscape below.
Lilith remained standing at the cliff's edge, watching him disappear into the distance. They had chosen to walk to the mountain earlier, savoring the time together, but now Gabriel's departure felt swift—like the ending of a fleeting, treasured moment. She let out a quiet breath and turned her attention back to the moonlit sky, ready to hold onto this final stretch of solitude before returning to reality.
Lilith remained seated on the grass, staring at the shimmering city below. The peaceful beauty of the mountaintop and the quiet of the night gave her space to think—perhaps too much space. The questions began to swirl in her mind, growing heavier with every passing moment.
"What should I do now?"
The sheer weight of her choices loomed over her. There was no simple path forward, no easy answer to the tangled mess Azareon had created in her life.
"How will I face Azareon?"
His power, his authority, his manipulative schemes—it felt like confronting a storm head-on, with nothing but her own resolve to shield her. Could she truly stand against him and emerge unscathed?
"Should I go with Gabriel?"
Her brother's offer tempted her still. Escape seemed like an enticing possibility, a chance to leave her burdens behind. But the thought of putting Gabriel's family at risk—or running away while Azareon's control tightened over others—made her hesitate.
As these doubts consumed her, Lilith clenched her fists, her gaze hardening against the horizon. She had come to the mountaintop to find clarity, but the questions only seemed to pull her deeper into uncertainty.
Then, without warning, the atmosphere began to shift.
The soft breeze she had felt all evening changed, its gentle touch growing heavier and suffocating. The air felt charged, wrapping around her like an invisible force. Lilith froze as the serenity of the mountaintop shattered around her.
The moonlight dimmed, its silver radiance fading into something harsher. Shadows crept across the ground, twisting unnaturally under the faint glow. The floating islands above, once magical and comforting, now appeared distant and ominous, their edges sharp against the darkening sky. Even the celestial wolves' howls, which had been harmonious and soothing, turned distorted—longer, mournful, and unsettling.
Lilith's heart raced as her instincts screamed at her to act, to escape, yet she remained rooted to the spot. Her body tensed, and her eyes began to glow a deep crimson red, burning like embers in the night. A strange sensation coursed through her veins, sharp and unrelenting.
Suddenly, a voice—deep, chilling, and laced with malice—echoed in her mind.
"In trouble, aren't you, my highness?"
Lilith gasped, her breath catching in her throat as the words reverberated through her mind. The voice was foreign, yet it carried a sinister familiarity, as if it had always been watching her, waiting for the moment to strike. Its presence felt ancient and inescapable, wrapping around her thoughts like a shadow she couldn't escape.
The mountaintop that had once been her sanctuary had transformed into something dark and oppressive. Lilith's questions faded into the background, replaced by a growing sense of dread and a realization she could no longer ignore. She wasn't alone.